CP Warns Against Illegal Detention

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Foluso A. Adebanjo, has warned Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the command to stop detaining suspects in their custody beyond 48 hours, except on exceptional cases.
The Commissioner also said a monitoring committee that would move across the Police detention cells would be set up soon.
The Commissioner disclosed this while briefing journalists during his maiden press briefing held at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
CP Adebanjo averred that he would not tolerate any form of violation of human rights by the police personnel under his guide, adding that police and civilian relationship must be encouraged.
“No more over detention of suspects in the Police Cell, you must release suspects within 48 hours except in exceptional cases. There must be a stop to violation of human rights by police men”, he stated.
The police boss urged the DPOs and the Area Commanders to employ the services of civilian informants that would help them in information gathering, adding that police intelligence gathering is key to success in the war against cultism and other criminal activities in the state.
He appealed to the DPOs to ensure that the identities of the informants are protected so as to engender  trust and confidence from the public in police in the gathering of information.
Adebanjo opined that he was not oblivious of the various challenges confronting them in their areas of attachment, adding that efforts would be made to improve their welfare conditions in order to increase productivity in the force.
The State Commissioner for Police while urging them to be proactive and fortify their areas called on all the striking operations in the Command to always involve him in their operations.